Written Answers Tuesday 6 October 2009

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the origins are known of grain imported from other EU member states.

Roseanna Cunningham: When goods are imported from other European Union (EU) countries, they have free movement within the single market of the EU. However, retailers, wholesalers and importers are able to trace the origin of goods that have been imported through supply chain records.

Agriculture

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether flax is grown in the United Kingdom and, if it is, what its main uses are.

Roseanna Cunningham: There is no commercially grown flax for its fibre in the UK. There is a small amount of linseed production, which also comes from the flax plant, in the UK. The main uses of linseed oil are as a drying agent in paints, resins, inks, soaps, varnishes, wood treatments and linoleum. There is also a market for linseed meal as animal feed and whole seed is used in the baking and confectionery industries.

Animal Welfare

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24398 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2009, when it will bring forward regulations to govern the use of snares.

Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27175 on 22 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Blood Donors

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that blood donors can access donation sessions in remote and rural areas.

Shona Robison: The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) is working closely with rural communities to review methods of collection from remote, rural and island communities. SNBTS is fully aware of the need to continually seek innovative ways to encourage donors and values every donation.

Blood Donors

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports blood donors being paid time off work to give blood.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government supports the World Health Organization advice that blood donation should be based on the altruistic principle of voluntary, unpaid donation as the cornerstone of blood safety. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service works closely with employers and asks for their continued support and endorsement of blood donation. The service is currently redesigning its blood collection strategy to allow it to collect from smaller workplaces and use less space than at present.

Blood Donors

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives are in place to encourage people to give blood.

Shona Robison: The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service launched a new, integrated marketing strategy in June 2008. This has already led to an increase of 70,000 new donors and the return of 40,000 donors. The service is working with management in the private and public sector to form partnerships and develop new blood donation opportunities within the workplace. It is also harnessing new technology, such as sending text messages, emails and use of the web and allowing text booking for donors. It is reviewing the location of donor centres to minimise queuing and improve the quality of accessibility of the experience of donors.

Community Care

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to local community care partnerships with regard to advance planning for the expected future care needs of people with progressive illnesses such as motor neurone disease.

Nicola Sturgeon: No such guidance has been issued. Community care partnerships are responsible for such planning in the light of local needs and circumstances.

  NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is however, developing generic clinical standards for neurological conditions and the draft standards include a requirement that each regional neurology centre has identified contacts with the individual responsible for neurological conditions in the local community health partnerships, to facilitate management in the community.

  The draft clinical standards also include standards specific to motor neurone disease (MND), focussing on the delivery of specialist MND services, diagnosis of MND and condition management of MND.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its civil servants are able to support the pursuit of independence in the same way as other Scottish Government policies.

Michael Russell: Yes. The Civil Service Code makes it clear that civil servants in the Scottish Government are accountable to Scottish ministers, and that the role of civil servants is to support ministers in developing and implementing policies and decisions that Scottish ministers judge to be in the best interests of Scotland and its people.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish its proposed Referendum Bill.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when its proposals on the proposed Referendum Bill will be published.

Michael Russell: As announced in the First Minister’s statement to Parliament on 3 September 2009, the Scottish Government will bring forward a Referendum Bill in 2010.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which section of the Scotland Act 1998 it considers confers powers on it to publish a referendum bill.

Michael Russell: Bills introduced into the Scottish Parliament are published by the Parliament, not the government. Ministers’ authority to introduce Government Bills into Parliament is set out in the standing orders of the Scottish Parliament made under Section 22 of the Scotland Act.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its officials were employed in the work of drafting and preparing for the proposed Referendum Bill.

Michael Russell: The Referendum Bill team is responsible for preparing the Referendum Bill, along with the Scottish Government’s Legal Directorate and Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings took place between officials and ministers up to the end of July 2009 in discussing the preparation for and drafting of the proposed Referendum Bill; on what dates they took place, and who was present in each case.

Michael Russell: I meet regularly with officials preparing the Referendum Bill, as has my colleague, the Minister for Parliamentary Business.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what contacts there have been with administrations outwith the United Kingdom in the drafting of and preparation for the proposed Referendum Bill.

Michael Russell: Scottish Government officials discuss the development of policy with a wide range of interests including, where appropriate, officials from other administrations.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with UK Government departments concerning the drafting of and preparation for the proposed Referendum Bill.

Michael Russell: Scottish Government officials discuss the development of policy with a wide range of interests including, where appropriate, officials in the UK Government.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which parliamentary draftsmen are involved in the drafting of the proposed Referendum Bill.

Michael Russell: The Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel drafts all Government Bills.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what overseas visits have taken place in connection with the preparation of the proposed Referendum Bill.

Michael Russell: None.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether counsel’s opinion has been sought regarding the legislative competence of a referendum bill being introduced in the Scottish Parliament.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice has been sought from the Scottish Law Officers regarding the constitutional and legal veracity of the proposed Referendum Bill.

Michael Russell: It is the practice of successive governments, reflected in the Scottish Ministerial Code and the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, that the fact and content of legal advice is not revealed.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have been involved in ministerial discussions concerning the drafting of and preparation for the proposed Referendum Bill.

Michael Russell: All ministers have been involved in discussions about the Referendum Bill.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation is proposed with (a) local government, (b) trades unions, (c) industry, (d) voluntary organisations and (e) the public in relation to the proposed Referendum Bill.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes that the proposed Referendum Bill should be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny and, if so, in what form and by whom.

Michael Russell: We will bring forward detailed plans in relation to the Referendum Bill in due course.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the possible hybridity of the proposed Referendum Bill.

Michael Russell: The question as to whether a legislative proposal may have a specific effect on particular private interests is considered in relation to the development of all Government Bills.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to defending any challenge to the proposed Referendum Bill in the Court of Session and the possible costs involved in such a challenge.

Michael Russell: This issue will be considered as part of the normal process for preparing for the introduction of a Bill.

Constitution

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has requested that the civil service develop workstreams on any matters reserved to Westminster.

Michael Russell: Scottish Government officials are examining the effects of changes to the constitution on the range of issues currently devolved or reserved in the Scotland Act.

Constitution

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to hold a referendum on any matter.

Michael Russell: The forthcoming Referendum Bill will confer any necessary powers for the holding of a referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future.

Digital Technology

Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the trial of broadband-enabling technology will be expanded to include Fife.

Jim Mather: BT has trialled its new broadband-enabling technology (BET) in sites in Dingwall and Inverness.

Electricity

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the recommendation in the Marine Energy Group’s Marine Energy Road Map , published on 26 August 2009, that Scottish Enterprise should revise the cap on its Scottish Venture Fund from £2 million to £10-15 million.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Venture Fund targets an identified gap in the availability of equity funding and supports deals within the £2 million to £5 million range, but up to £10 million in some circumstances. The fund provides an investment of £2 million and co-invests with private sector investors. To date there is no detailed market evidence to suggest that there is any need to revise the current £2 million investment ceiling.

Electricity

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the view of the developers on the Marine Energy Group that "it is essential that the Beauly-Denny link must be consented urgently by Scottish ministers since not only does it provide capacity for renewable projects most ready for connection, but it is also key to unlocking further progress on network upgrades."

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21310 on 9 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland, as recommended by the Council of Economic Advisers, was commissioned.

Jim Mather: The independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland was commissioned in July 2009.

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland, as recommended by the Council of Economic Advisers, was completed.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland, as recommended by the Council of Economic Advisers, was delivered to the Council of Economic Advisers.

Jim Mather: The independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland was presented for consideration on 18 September 2009. It is currently being reviewed.

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive who carried out the independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland, as recommended by the Council of Economic Advisers.

Jim Mather: The independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland was carried out by Wood Mackenzie.

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what parameters were given to the organisation carrying out the independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland, as recommended by the Council of Economic Advisers.

Jim Mather: The organisation carrying out the independent assessment of energy options were asked to outline the scope, costs and emissions abatement potential of the various generation technologies available to Scotland, seeking to identify which sources are likely to benefit from a comparative advantage over others.

Energy

Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average national transmission charges are for (a) wind farms, (b) nuclear power stations and (c) fossil fuel power stations.

Jim Mather: According to National Grid’s Seven Year Statement* published in May 2009, the estimated average national transmission charges for generation types is as follows:

  

Fuel Type
Average TNUoS Tariff (£/kW)
Highest (£/kW)
Lowest (£/kW)


Nuclear
5.3694
13.6017
-3.2820


Fossil Fuel
3.6310
21.5887
-6.9780


Wind
16.9143
21.5887
0.2545



  Notes:

  Figures are for the whole of the UK.

  *Information to existing and prospective new users of the GB transmission system to help them assess opportunities for new or additional use of the grid system.

Energy

Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average national grid transmission charge is in each local authority area.

Jim Mather: The generation zones used by National Grid to calculate transmission charges do not precisely match local authority boundary areas. However, according to National Grid estimates taken from their Seven Year Statement* published in May 2009, National Grid estimate average transmission tariffs for generation in each local authority area in Scotland, England and Wales are as follows:

  

Local Authority
Average Generation Tariff (£/kW)


Scotland
 


Aberdeen City
21.5887


Aberdeenshire
19.5926


Angus
16.8710


Argyll and Bute
14.8222


Clackmannanshire
14.4797


Dumfries and Galloway
12.4227


Dundee City
16.8710


East Ayrshire
13.6017


East Dunbartonshire
16.8710


East Lothian
13.6017


East Renfrewshire
13.6017


Edinburgh, City of
13.6017


Eilean Siar
21.1042


Falkirk
14.4797


Fife
14.4797


Glasgow City
14.2367


Highland
19.8546


Inverclyde
13.7977


Midlothian
13.6017


Moray
21.5887


North Ayrshire
13.6017


North Lanarkshire
14.0407


Orkney Islands
21.5887**


Perth and Kinross
15.6754


Renfrewshire
13.7977


Scottish Borders
13.6017


Shetland Islands
21.5887**


South Ayrshire
12.4227


South Lanarkshire
14.0407


Stirling
15.1148


West Dunbartonshire
13.9937


West Lothian
14.0407


England and Wales


Bath and North East Somerset
-1.6032


Bedfordshire
2.1105


Blackburn with Darwen
6.1423


Blackpool
6.1423


Blaenau Gwent
-1.6032


Bournemouth
-3.2820


Bracknell Forest
-1.3867


Bridgend
-1.6032


Brighton and Hove
-1.3867


Bristol
-1.6032


Buckinghamshire
0.3619


Caerphilly
-1.6032


Cambridgeshire
3.1542


Cardiff
-1.6032


Carmarthenshire
0.2537


Ceredigion
2.1105


Cheshire
3.1542


Conwy
5.7534


Cornwall
-6.6838


Cumbria
6.1423


Darlington
9.8537


Denbighshire
4.1979


Derby
2.1105


Derbyshire
3.1542


Devon
-4.9829


Dorset
-3.2820


Durham
9.8537


East Riding of Yorkshire
6.1423


East Sussex
-1.3867


Essex
1.1825


Flintshire
4.1979


Gloucestershire
-0.2931


Greater London
-2.7034


Greater Manchester
5.1701


Gwynedd
5.1938


Halton
6.1423


Hampshire
-2.3343


Hartlepool
9.8537


Herefordshire
0.2537


Hertfordshire
0.3261


Isle of Anglesey
6.8725


Kent
0.2545


Kingston upon Hull
6.1423


Lancashire
6.1423


Leicester
2.1105


Leicestershire
3.1542


Lincolnshire
4.1979


Luton
2.1105


Medway
0.2545


Merseyside
5.1701


Merthyr Tydfil
-1.6032


Middlesbrough
9.8537


Milton Keynes
2.1105


Monmouthshire
-1.6032


Neath Port Talbot
-1.6032


Newport
-1.6032


Norfolk
3.1542


North East Lincolnshire
6.1423


North Lincolnshire
5.1701


North Somerset
-1.6032


North Yorkshire
7.9980


Northamptonshire
2.1105


Northumberland
11.7277


Nottingham
2.1105


Nottinghamshire
3.1542


Oxfordshire
0.3619


Pembrokeshire
-1.6032


Peterborough
3.1542


Plymouth
-6.6838


Poole
-3.2820


Portsmouth
-1.3867


Powys
0.2537


Reading
-1.3867


Redcar and Cleveland
9.8537


Rhondda, Cynon, Taff
-1.6032


Rutland
3.1542


Shropshire
2.1105


Slough
-1.3867


Somerset
-3.2820


South Gloucestershire
-1.6032


South Yorkshire
4.1979


Southampton
-3.2820


Southend-on-Sea
0.2545


Staffordshire
2.1105


Stockton-on-Tees
9.8537


Stoke-on-Trent
2.1105


Suffolk
2.1105


Surrey
-0.5661


Swansea
-1.6032


Swindon
-1.4949


Telford and Wrekin
2.1105


Thurrock
0.2545


Torbay
-3.2820


Torfaen
-1.6032


Tyne and Wear
9.8537


Vale of Glamorgan
-1.6032


Warrington
6.1423


Warwickshire
2.1105


West Berkshire
-1.3867


West Midlands
2.1105


West Sussex
-1.3867


West Yorkshire
6.1423


Wiltshire
-2.0906


Windsor and Maidenhead
-1.3867


Wokingham
-1.3867


Worcestershire
2.1105


Wrexham
2.1105


York
6.1423



  Notes:

  *Information to existing and prospective new users of the GB transmission system to help them assess opportunities for new or additional use of the grid system.

  **Shetland and Orkney will have additional offshore tariffs once the offshore Transmission Operator tender process is complete, however these tariffs have not yet been determined.

Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has put in place to bring about the substantial reinforcements of the electricity transmission system needed to realise the potential of renewable energy sources, as identified in the National Planning Framework for Scotland 2.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27792 on 6 October 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspxI.

  In addition, the Second National Planning Framework is supported by a high-level action programme identifying key elements of the spatial strategy, key milestones in their implementation, lead partners and other delivery bodies. The Scottish Government will be engaging with lead partners and delivery bodies on the implementation of the action programme later in the autumn. Annual reviews of the action programme will provide a means of assessing progress.

Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has considered to enable Scottish Hydro-Electric Transmission Ltd to commence building a new 132 kv line from the (a) north Caithness coast to Dounreay and (b) Orkney islands to Dounreay.

Jim Mather: Our Second National Planning Framework was published in June this year. Within this national framework, the development of individual electricity grid reinforcement and upgrade projects is for transmission system owners, and subject to detailed planning permission from the relevant authorities.  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/07/02105627/0 .

Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to National Grid Plc on its policy on transmission charging considered to place generators in the north of Scotland at a competitive disadvantage.

Jim Mather: The existing transmission charging model applied by National Grid and Ofgem for electricity grid access and use results in energy generators in Scotland paying higher transmission charges than elsewhere in Britain.

  In November of 2008, the Scottish Government submitted detailed proposals to National Grid for an alternative transmission charging methodology based on a flat-rate charge, not based on location of generators connecting to the grid. Since then, we have made detailed and ongoing representations to support alternative charging models to National Grid, Ofgem, and UK ministers.

  National Grid has consulted on the initial proposal from Scotland and, despite strong support from consultation respondents, recently announced its intention not change the existing locational based approach.

  We will continue to press National Grid, Ofgem and UK Government, in the context of the UK Government’s wider review of grid access, to deliver access and charging methodologies for generators in Scotland that are equitable, compliant with EU law, and encourage, rather than discourage, energy from renewable sources.

Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the European Union regarding transmission charges, given that the Renewables Directive states that "Member States shall ensure that the charging of transmission and distribution tariffs does not discriminate against electricity from renewable energy sources, including in particular electricity from renewable energy sources produced in peripheral regions, such as island regions, and in regions of low population density."

Jim Mather: We have made a number of representations to National Grid, Ofgem and the UK Government on Article 16 of the EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC. We are challenging how the existing locational charging approach for electricity grid access and use, which results in energy generators in Scotland paying higher transmission charges than elsewhere in Britain, fits with the requirement to comply with Article 16. We will continue to make those representations with the aim of delivering a charging methodology for generators in Scotland that is equitable, compliant with EU law and encourages, rather than discriminates against energy from renewable sources.

Energy Efficiency

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to assist the construction sector in ensuring that it is able to make a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions and improving the built environment.

Jim Mather: We are clear that better thermal standards across the built environment will make a very significant contribution to our carbon reduction targets. We have just published a Consultation on the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland . This highlights action that is already being taken, and ideas on further ways to cut emissions and boost the economy, including what skills might be needed in the construction industry to improve the energy performance of the built environment. In addition, the Scottish Construction Centre, which is supported by Scottish Enterprise, works with construction companies to disseminate innovative best practice across the sector, including best practice in the area of carbon reduction.

Enterprise

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many notes of interest it has received for the Saltire Prize competition.

Jim Mather: To date, a total of 129 registrations of interest for the Saltire Prize competition have been received from 27 different countries.

Enterprise

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the information published on its website, in which month of 2009 it will publish the final guidelines for the Saltire Prize.

Jim Mather: The final guidelines for the Saltire Prize will be published by the end of 2009. Although later than originally anticipated, it has been important to take full account of the issues raised in the public consultation on the draft guidelines before publishing the final set of guidelines.

Flood Prevention

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it gives to local authorities on the maintenance and clearing of drains.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has not issued guidance to local authorities on the maintenance of drains. However, under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, the Scottish Government is reviewing the need for guidance on clearance and repair works to bodies of waters, which could cover certain drains.

Flood Prevention

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of flooding infrastructure across Scotland.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Flood Defence and Asset Database (SFDAD) was commissioned in 2004. SFDAD is an electronic register containing detailed records of assets, condition and level of protection of confirmed flood prevention schemes. At that time, a review of 38 historic schemes was carried out to establish their level of protection using modern methods. Reports on each scheme were provided to the responsible local authority. A summary of the findings is available at www.scottishflooddefences.gov.uk .

Genetically Modified Crops

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Scotland has the authority and resources to test for GM flax contamination independently of the UK FSA.

Roseanna Cunningham: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that enforcement of food law is the responsibility of local authorities. Sampling and testing of food and feed is undertaken by local authorities under their own authority, without reference to central government. I am informed by the Food Standards Agency that it funds a programme of food surveys which includes tests for contaminants and unauthorised ingredients. In addition, the agency receives central funding for sampling and analysis of contaminants in imported food at a UK level. This funding is made available to local authorities for sampling and analysis on application. In addition, local authorities receive funding from the Scottish Government and from their collection of council tax. Local authorities set their own priorities in terms of spending.

Genetically Modified Crops

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of news of GM flax contamination, all imports of grain from Canada are monitored for GM presence and, if so, with what results.

Roseanna Cunningham: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that food and feed retailers and wholesalers are responsible for ensuring that the food and feed they sell does not contain unauthorised GM material. The agency has alerted relevant trade bodies and food businesses, and local authorities, that batches of linseed (flax seed) imported from Canada into the EU have been found to contain a small proportion of a GM variety that is not authorised to be marketed in the European Union, and that there has been a report that the GM variety has been confirmed in Canadian linseed imported by a UK operator, who is notifying its customers. The agency has reminded food businesses, trade bodies and local authorities that the presence of unauthorised GM material in any food is illegal, and such products should not be placed on the market, and has advised them of available tests. If any tests undertaken result in a positive finding of GM presence, the results will be notified to the competent authorities (the Food Standards Agency and the local authority), who will undertake a risk assessment and take appropriate action.

Genetically Modified Crops

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether EU-grown crops are produced using seed from Canada.

Roseanna Cunningham: EU seeds legislation requires that member states should ensure that they are notified of the particulars of any seed (to be used for multiplication purposes as opposed to grain) weighing over 2kgs which is directly imported from Canada or any other third country. No such notifications have ever been received by Scottish ministers regarding seed from Canada. This information is not, however, routinely compiled at EU level and the Scottish Government has no information on such notifications elsewhere in Europe.

Genetically Modified Crops

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether grain imports from other EU countries are monitored for GM presence.

Roseanna Cunningham: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that food and feed retailers and wholesalers are responsible for ensuring that the food and feed they sell does not contain unauthorised GM material. Enforcement of food law, and routine sampling and testing of feed and food, is the responsibility of local authorities. The agency has alerted food businesses, trade bodies and local authorities that batches of linseed imported from Canada into the EU have been found to contain an unauthorised GM variety, and has advised that UK operators who use linseed may wish to check the situation with their suppliers.

Genetically Modified Crops

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether seed imports into the European Union are monitored for GM presence.

Roseanna Cunningham: EU seeds legislation does not require the monitoring of seed imports for adventitious GM presence (AGMP). However, the Scottish Government GM Inspectorate monitors the direct import of non-GM seed that is of high risk by conducting a twice yearly survey of seed companies. Information on voluntary monitoring carried out elsewhere in the EU, is available at:

  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biotechnology/pdf/seeds_study_2007.pdf.

Genetically Modified Crops

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the Food Standards Agency issued Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed notification 2009.1256, concerning unauthorised GM linseed from Canada on 28 September 2009.

Roseanna Cunningham: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed notification 2009.1256, was issued because a food business’s check confirmed the presence of unauthorised genetically modified FP 967 linseed originating from Canada in cereals and bakery products.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will limit the number of GPs prescribing to patients in care homes.

Nicola Sturgeon: We have no plans to limit the number of GPs prescribing to patients in care homes.

  Any GP of an individual practice in Scotland, where a patient has their name on the list, is required to prescribe for the patient as appropriate. Should it be deemed necessary for a patient to change practices, it would be for the appropriate health board to take action to ensure the patient is placed on another practice list.

Healthcare Associated Infections

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken following publication of the report, Lessons Learned from NHS QIS visits to NHS Orkney, NHS Grampian and NHS Highland following Clostridium difficile incidents: Overview Report - June 2009, and how progress will be monitored.

Nicola Sturgeon: Following publication of the report, all NHS board chairs and chief executives were asked to review the content of the NHS QIS report and ensure the lessons learned were considered in the context of their own NHS board. This was followed up with visits by Scottish Government Health Directorates officials to all boards to review progress against implementation of the Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) National Action Plan, introduced following the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital last year.

  The Scottish Government Health Directorates has also agreed that NHS QIS undertake follow-up visits in December 2009 to assess the progress made by NHS Orkney, NHS Grampian and NHS Highland with implementation of the actions detailed in the report.

  Whilst not directly linked to the NHS QIS report, the new Care Environment Inspectorate will be visiting every acute hospital at least once over the next three years and will also undertake unannounced inspections. Their focus will be to reduce the HAI risk to patients through a rigorous inspection framework that will specifically focus on providing assurance to the public, NHS boards and the Scottish Government that patients are as safe as possible from HAIs and their consequences; that HAI standards in NHS acute hospitals are high and that any HAI issues are being tackled effectively.

International Relations

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is no evidence to suggest that Scotland’s reputation has suffered greatly through the global economic crisis.

Michael Russell: There is no evidence that Scotland’s reputation has suffered greatly through the global economic crisis. Scotland remains an attractive and highly competitive location for both indigenous and international businesses, and has real strengths and continued potential for growth in many sectors.

National Conversation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the topics of the 14 workstreams that make up the National Conversation; which directors lead each team, and how much of each director’s time each week is devoted to this work.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list each of the 14 workstreams relating to the National Conversation.

Michael Russell: Policy development work on the National Conversation includes an assessment of constitutional change across the full range of matters currently devolved and reserved in the Scotland Act. This work is carried out across directorates as part of officials’ normal duties and is not therefore separately quantified.

National Conversation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what further publications it intends to produce as part of its National Conversation.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government will publish papers covering a range of topics.

National Conversation

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its officials are part of the National Conversation team.

Michael Russell: The team which manages the National Conversation and Referendum is responsible for the Scottish Government’s policy on developing Scotland’s constitution, and responding to related initiatives such as the UK Government’s Governance of Britain programme, the Commission on Scottish Devolution, the All Wales Convention and the Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales.

  There is currently the equivalent of 12.5 full-time staff engaged in these activities.

National Conversation

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what stakeholders it intends to consult on matters relating to the National Conversation.

Michael Russell: Scotland’s National Conversation is already successfully engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, with the voluntary sector, faith groups, business, trades unions, local government, academics, young people and ethnic minority groups all taking part.

National Conversation

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much working time is devoted to the National Conversation workstream on a fairer Scotland.

Michael Russell: Policy development work on the National Conversation is carried out by officials as part of their normal duties and is not separately quantified.

National Conversation

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions its officials have had with UK Government officials on any of the 14 workstreams relating to the National Conversation.

Michael Russell: Scottish Government officials discuss the development of policy with a wide range of interests including, where appropriate, officials in the UK Government.

National Conversation

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all of the public meetings on the National Conversation, showing their locations and those in attendance representing the Scottish Government.

Michael Russell: Information about National Conversation events directly organised by the Scottish Government and involving ministers is available on the National Conversation website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/a-national-conversation/nctimeline.

National Conversation

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers have encouraged submissions to the National Conversation from stakeholders.

Michael Russell: All stakeholders, whether they are individuals or organisations, are encouraged to participate in the National Conversation. They can do so by attending public or stakeholder events, through the website or by commenting on National Conversation publications.

National Conversation

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has costed running a referendum as outlined in the National Conversation.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20911 on 9 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

National Conversation

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs will be of running a referendum as outlined in the National Conversation

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20911 on 9 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Planning

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with local communities that would be affected by the proposed new coal power station at Hunterston before including the proposal as part of a national development in the National Planning Framework for Scotland 2.

Stewart Stevenson: If any proposal in relation to a new coal power station at Hunterston were to be submitted, it would be expected that the applicant would engage with local communities. I understand that no such discussions have yet taken place.

Public Transport

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Buses for Scotland: Progress Through Partnership forum has been reconvened since 11 March 2008 and, if so, when.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a date has been set for the next meeting of the Buses for Scotland: Progress Through Partnership forum and, if so, what date.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made toward achieving the outcomes agreed at the Buses for Scotland: Progress Through Partnership forum meeting on 11 March 2008.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the progress made toward achieving the outcomes agreed at the Buses for Scotland: Progress Through Partnership forum meeting on 11 March 2008.

Stewart Stevenson: No further meetings of the High Level Forum have taken place since 11 March 2008, the actions from which were published in the Buses for Scotland: Progress through Partnership Forum Report, available in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib. number 49265). The Scottish Government has delivered on its commitments from the High Level Forum, including the publication of a suite of best practice guidance for local authorities including Bus Route Development Grant, bus information, Punctuality Improvement Partnerships, statutory Quality Partnerships and a Park and Ride Framework for buses.

  The Scottish Government is currently reviewing stakeholder arrangements for bus policy. Future meetings of the High Level Forum will form part of these considerations.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the recommendation in the Marine Energy Group’s Marine Energy Road Map , published on 26 August 2009, that the Scottish Government should consider the roles of the various public bodies providing funding for early stage technologies, including Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Carbon Trust and the Scottish Government.

Jim Mather: As a follow up to this recommendation and those contained in the Renewables Action Plan , the Scottish Government has embarked on a project to map the full range of research, development, demonstration and deployment support available in Scotland for low carbon technologies. This project will produce recommendations on streamlining and prioritisation of support landscape required to meet 2020 targets for renewable energy and carbon emissions.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26835 by Jim Mather on 8 September 2009, when it will announce whether it supports the recommendation in the Marine and Energy Group’s Marine Energy Road Map that the Scottish Government should introduce a flexible new initiative modelled on the existing Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme.

Jim Mather: Ministers are currently considering the recommendations addressed to the Scottish Government within the Marine Energy Road Map.

  Consideration of the recommendation to introduce a new initiative similar to the Wave and Tidal Energy Support (WATES) scheme will be undertaken as part of the Scottish Government’s current budgetary review process.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the recommendation in the Marine Energy Group’s Marine Energy Road Map , published on 26 August 2009, that the Scottish Government should review urgently the level of renewables obligation certificate (ROC) banding for tidal stream to attract 5 ROCs/MWh in line with the band for wave energy in Scotland.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government agrees that the ROC bands in our Renewables Obligation legislation need to be set at the right levels. We are collaborating with the UK Government on an updated study of wave and tidal energy costs, which should be complete by the end of this year. The study will help determine whether or not there is sufficient evidence for an early review of our wave and tidal ROC bands.

Scottish Government Budget

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on hospitality since May 2007, broken down by directorate.

John Swinney: Total Scottish Government expenditure on hospitality for the financial year 2007-08 (April 2007 to March 2008) was £926,000. Due to changes in the internal structure of the Scottish Government during 2007, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of this amount on a comparable basis to the following figures.

  Therefore expenditure on hospitality by Directorate-General is shown from April 2008 and is set out in the following table. This table includes all expenditure recorded on the Scottish Government accounting system as hospitality.

  

Analysis of Hospitality Expenditure
Financial Year 2008-09 (£)
Four Months – 1 April 2009 to 31 July 2009 (£)


Director-General Economy and Chief Economic Adviser
119,519
57,816


Director-General Education
195,332
49,378


Director-General Finance and Corporate Services
140,379
43,230


Director-General Health
129,154
42,224


Director-General Justice
127,950
43,734


Director-General Environment
172,172
53,798


Permanent Secretary
98,053
17,651


Grand Total
982,559
307,831



  All expenditure detailed in the table is incurred in accordance with internal guidance on the provision of hospitality and includes the costs of ministerial events with external stakeholders. The guidance outlines the circumstances and range of official hospitality that justifies funding, subject to the appropriate authorisation being granted by the approving officer; this may extend to including the cost of a venue selected for a conference. Hospitality may include:

  Hospitality for official visitors, including civil servants from other government departments and visitors from overseas;

  Light refreshments for meetings;

  Working lunches within and outwith the normal workplace, and

  Special occasions.

Scottish Government Funding

Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will grant additional funding to Glasgow City Council in recognition of the metropolitan services provided by it and, if so, when.

John Swinney: We have no plans to grant additional funding to Glasgow City Council in recognition of the metropolitan services provided by it. The Scottish Government already provides substantial financial support to Glasgow City Council to assist it in delivering services in the city.

Scottish Water

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is regarding Scottish Water leakage allowances in respect of payments for metered water supplies

Stewart Stevenson: Following the introduction of retail competition, charges to non-household customers, including policies on leakage allowances, are the responsibility of licensed providers.

Sensory-Impaired People

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to community health partnerships regarding the provision of specialist paediatric occupational therapy services for children with sensory impairment.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 introduced a new framework to assist children and young people with additional support needs who face barriers to learning. The act imposes a duty on NHS boards and others to comply with requests from local authorities for assistance.

  The then Scottish Executive’s Sensory Impairment Action Plan (SIAP), launched in January 2004, identified common community care priorities for people with sensory impairment and made seven recommendations setting out short, medium and long-term goals to improve access to services. The Scottish Government is working with service users, and relevant voluntary and statutory agencies to implement the recommendations.

  In 2007, the Scottish Government published, under cover of HDL(2007)20, Community Care Services For People with A Sensory Impairment: Policy and Practice Guidance for local authorities and their partners on meeting the needs of people with a sensory impairment. It sets out the role of community health partnerships in reducing the health inequalities faced by this group.

Sensory-Impaired People

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which community health partnerships currently provide a specialist paediatric occupational therapy service for children with sensory impairment.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally. It is for NHS boards to determine the services they provide for this group of children, based on local priorities and clinical need. The Scottish Government has funded an allied health professions officer and an education officer who are currently scoping children’s services. They are working to support a partnership approach to enhancing access to therapy services, including occupational therapy for children with sensory impairment.

Sport

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in addition to submitting a response to the Free-to-air Events Review consultation, what correspondence it has had with the UK Government regarding consideration of adding Scotland’s competitive international football matches to the list of so-called crown jewels.

Michael Russell: On 28 January 2008, Linda Fabiani, the then Minister for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, wrote to Andy Burnham, the then UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Linda Fabiani’s letter, which followed a debate on the televising of Scottish football matches held in the Parliament on 9 January 2008, emphasised the dissatisfaction felt by many people in Scotland about Scottish men’s football qualifying matches being available only on subscription television services. The letter also encouraged the UK Government to make progress as soon as possible with establishing its review of Free-to-air events.

  The Scottish Government submitted its response to the UK Government’s Free-to-air Events Review consultation on 15 July 2009. Its response stated that qualifying matches (home and away) by the Scottish men’s national football team for the European Championships and the World Cup should be broadcast live on free-to-air television.

Tourism

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of concerns expressed by members of UKinbound that the high cost of visas to visit the United Kingdom is deterring tourists, what information it has about the potential effects of the cost of visas on tourism to Scotland and, if it does not have any such information, whether it would consider collecting it.

Jim Mather: Policy on tourist visas is currently reserved to the UK Government, specifically the Home Office and UK Border Agency. No specific research has been carried out into the impacts of visa costs on tourism to Scotland, but research was carried out by the UK Government and the Tourism Alliance in 2008. This work did not show substantial evidence of any impact on applications for visas.

Vaccinations

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the licensing of influenza A (H1N1) drug Pandemrix to be formalised and whether it will set out its vaccination programme for (a) high risk, (b) priority and (c) other groups, broken down by estimated (i) start and (ii) finish dates.

Nicola Sturgeon: On 1 October, the European Commission granted authorisations that will allow the A(H1N1) vaccine Pandemrix to be used to vaccinate people against the influenza A(H1N1) virus.

  Priority groups were previously announced on 13 August and these are the groups which are considered to be most at risk of developing complications as a result of the influenza A(H1N1) virus. It is expected that the vaccination programme for these groups will commence in the second half of October and it is anticipated that vaccination of these individuals will be completed by the end of December.

  Independent scientific advice has indicated that the use of the vaccine in the wider population should depend on the evolution of the pandemic as well as new and emerging clinical data on the use of the vaccine. We will continue to monitor the virus closely over the next few months and review plans as necessary.